Materials / Compare
Plastic HDPE vs. FDM HIPS
Compare Plastic HDPE vs. FDM HIPS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 24MPasourcetypical, tensile stress at yield 23 °C, 50 mm/min ISO 527 | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | not sourced | 18.4MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 31.8MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 1.4%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 0.9GPasourcetypical, tensile modulus 23 °C ISO 527 | 1.59GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 950kg/m³sourcetypical, ISO 1183 | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 25.3kN·m/kg40% higher | 18kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 0.947MN·m/kg | 1.55MN·m/kg1.64x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.4–0.45sourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | 0.316GPa | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | 2GPa | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 973m/s | 1,246m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4–0.49W/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 120µm/m·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 600µm growth | 400µm growth1.5x less |
| Specific heat | 2,250J/kg·Ksourcebase material: high-density polyethylene family (INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA, Typical Engineering Properties of HDPE) | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.208mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 56.9W/m | not sourced |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 99°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa |
| Values for | LyondellBasell Hostalen 23050 B high density polyethylene, typical ISO values | BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM. |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Plastic HDPE stronger than FDM HIPS?
Plastic HDPE is stronger: its yield strength is 24 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (30%).
Which is lighter, Plastic HDPE or FDM HIPS?
Plastic HDPE is lighter: 950 kg/m³ against 1,023 kg/m³ for FDM HIPS.
Which is stiffer, Plastic HDPE or FDM HIPS?
FDM HIPS is stiffer: Young's modulus 1.59 GPa against 0.9 GPa for Plastic HDPE, so the same part in FDM HIPS deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Plastic HDPE or FDM HIPS?
For the same stiffness or strength: Plastic HDPE is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Plastic HDPE | FDM HIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 1.64x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 23% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | 12% heavier | lighter |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 40% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 29% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 23% heavier |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Plastic HDPE or FDM HIPS?
Plastic HDPE conducts heat better: 0.445 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
FDM HIPS expands less: 80 µm/m·K against 120 µm/m·K for Plastic HDPE.